The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has handed over 17 gold bars to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) at the Ministry of the Interior in Accra.

The recovered gold bars are valued at $1.7 million.

The gold bars were seized by officers of the Upper East Command of the commission at the Paga Border Post, from two Burkinabe nationals who were attempting to smuggle them out of the country.

The two Burkinabe have been charged with gold offences relating to transportation and dealing in gold.

Minister for the Interior Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak assured the management of GoldBod of the ministry’s continued support and backing for GoldBod's efforts to manage Ghana's gold resources.

The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, expressed gratitude to the Director-General of NACOC for the successful handover and called for continued support and collaboration between various security agencies to enable them to succeed in safeguarding the country’s natural resources.

The handing over ceremony was witnessed by the Chief Director of the ministry, Doreen Annan; Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey; and other senior officials from NACOC and GoldBod.